Amaya had woken up Saturday morning with the urge to shop. She needed some warmer clothes and she thought she might go mad without a new book. She bought six.
Her trip into Seattle was a refreshing breath of normalcy after being on the run. She was fitting in nicely at the station and with Sue but it was nice not to have to smile and laugh with people she was hiding a part of herself from. Amaya hated lying to them and was very grateful they didn't ask too many questions.
Amaya loaded herself up with shopping bags and made her way clumsily into her home. On her way back to her car for the second time, she found Seth already gathering the last of her new things. He shot a winning smile at her and said, "I think this is it. Would you get the door for me?"
Seth took off without waiting for a response, so Amaya locked up the car and followed him in. He set his burden with the rest of the shopping bags in her bedroom before coming back out to the living room where Amaya was hovering by the open front door.
"Thanks. Tell Sue I'm sorry I missed dinner." "I will. We're frying fish tomorrow." "I'm busy." "You're welcome if you change your mind." "Well, it's been a long day. I'm tired. And you have to work early, don't you?" "Yeah, I've got the morning shift. How was your shopping spree?" Seth Clearwater refused to take a hint. "Seth, it's time for you to go."
Anne sure didn't beat around the bush. She'd made it back okay and was even smiling until she realized he was there. Seth was surprised she hadn't argued about him helping her. Maybe she was warming up to him after all!
"Anne, would you like to see a movie with me tomorrow?" Seth had never really dated because his wolf had emerged so early in his life; but his Pack's memories of such things led him to believe that this was an acceptable first move. Anne's reaction said he was very much mistaken.
She jumped out the door and took off walking without a glance backwards. Seth took off after her. He closed the door behind him.
Anne was definitely not acting like herself. She would never leave the door open. She would never have left him in her house.
"Anne, wait! Come back! Please! The woods aren't safe at night." "Leave me alone Seth." "Come back to the house." "Leave. I can't be near you right now." Seth had caught up to her and he reached out to grab her hand.
"If you touch me I'll scream. We aren't too far from the house, Charlie will hear." "I'm not going to hurt you Anne. I just want to keep you safe." "I can take care of myself. Just go away." "We work together Anne. I'm not going to disappear, and you can't avoid me forever." "We work together Seth. That's it. Whatever other interest you think you have in me is unwarranted. I can't be your friend or anything else. Give up on me. Go home." "Can't, or won't?" "Does it matter?" "Of course it matters." "I can't be anything to you but a coworker. And I don't want to be."
She couldn't have hurt him more if she'd stabbed him with a knife.
"I'll go. But please, stay out of the woods." "Fine." Anne waited until Seth turned and walked away before she looked back to watch him go.
Amaya couldn't stop the tears from falling. She had known Seth Clearwater for one week. He invaded her space and took liberties with her. He made it perfectly clear he was attracted to her. Seth had annoyed, frightened, alarmed, and embarrassed her.
Amaya took a deep breath and went back to her house. She hung up her clothes. She cleaned the dishes from her breakfast. She looked out the window to the nearly full moon just rising.
No matter what she had said to Seth, Amaya could not stay inside tonight. She changed into jeans and hiking boots, flannel and a heavy coat. No sense going unprepared this time. She wasn't wild with fright tonight.
Amaya locked the door behind her and walked straight into the woods. She followed the trail and left herself markers when it split. The night was cold and, eventually, it began to rain and on she walked.
Seth had gone back to speak with his mother after his shattering dismissal. Sue looked surprised to see him but she jumped up to give him a hug when she saw the dejected look on his face.
"Do you want to talk about it?" "She hates me. I frightened her when we first met. I've been so obsessed and so sure that she would eventually give in to our bond that I didn't bother to heed the warning signs." "You just need to give her some space and time to adjust. Be her friend if she does not want a lover." "She won't even take me as a friend. She barely tolerates me as a coworker. I asked her out and she ran from me. Literally ran from me."
Sue thought for a moment. "Where did she run?" "The woods, of course. I swear she seeks out the most dangerous environment and throws herself into it." "You let her go out there alone?" "Of course not. I convinced her to go back into the house."
Seth thought back to Anne's first weekend in Forks. He had become the giant wolf and found her. Anne hadn't even flinched at his other form. She had spoken to him in that form and trusted him.
"Mom, has anyone ever wooed their imprint in their wolf form?" "Not in any of the legends I've heard. what are you thinking?" "She wanted nothing to do with Seth the man, but Anne trusted Seth the Wolf. She wasn't afraid of me in that form at all. The wolf won't stand to be away from her so, maybe it's the wolf she needs right now." "She may not handle the knowledge very well, Seth. She's more fragile than even she knows and I doubt she'll respond well to the imprint." "I'm not going to tell her yet. I think she needs a friend she can trust and confide in. She isn't comfortable with people and I can protect her much better as a wolf."
Sue was not convinced but she would give Seth free reign here. Perhaps he was right.
"Alright, go to her. But remember she will treat you as a pet: kibble and flea baths. And you are way too big for the house. This will not be easy." "I'll put up with anything to be with her." "Then go."
Seth kissed his mother's cheek and headed out the back door. He stripped off his clothes and shimmered quietly intothe giant wolf. He took off to the cottage with his tail held high. He knew this would work.